Hypertension Remedies Research Note
By Reader's Digest Editors
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Reducing high blood pressure is a major health upgrade: Bringing levels back to normal—with healthy lifestyle changes and medication if needed—can cut your odds for a stroke by 30 percent, reduce your chances for a heart attack by 23 percent, and slash your risk for heart failure and dementia by half. Start with healthy habits: Simply cutting way back on high-sodium prepared foods, restaurant meals and fast food brought levels back to normal in one study. Adding exercise, weight loss, and other healthy foods helps, too. Even if your doctor recommends blood pressure-lowering medications, adding these smart steps will help you control this silent killer more effectively.
Fast Facts:- Quit tobacco. Smoking 15 cigarettes a day raises your risk for high blood pressure by 11 percent; smoking 25 cigarettes daily raises it 21 percent.
- Fix sleep apnea. Disturbed sleep boosts artery-tightening stress hormones, raising hypertension risk 7 times higher than normal.
- Take a walk today, then do it again tomorrow. A brisk, 30-minute walk most days of the week can keep your blood pressure 5 to 6 points lower.
- Get three pressure-soothing minerals. Calcium from low-fat dairy, plus potassium and magnesium from fruits and vegetables tame hypertension.
- Drop one dress or pants size. Losing 10 pounds, and keeping it off, can take you from elevated to healthy blood pressure levels, one study found.
High Blood Pressure Treatment
emedicinehealth.com — “Learn about high blood pressure (hypertension) causes such as heart disease, kidney disease, tumors, birth control, alcohol, thyroid dysfunction and birth control pills. Find out what the normal ranges for high blood pressure are, and when to seek medical care for high blood pressure.” View full resource at emedicinehealth.com
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